The public doesn't hate Net Zero as much as RW politicians insist they do

[Echobelly]

Politicians like Kemi Badenoch and right wing newspaper front pages love to talk as though everyone hates Net Zero and sustainability as concepts and wants us to get on with burning coal and drilling for oil. They seem to stake an awful lot on people not like sustainability mostly because they see it as 'woke' as far as I can tell.

I think most people don't think about it enough to hate it really and most people broadly want the outcomes of improved sustainability but would like it to happen without it needing any investment. I reckon some people don't like feeling 'nagged' about saving the environment and in many ways I don't blame them as, while we should all do our bit, really it's up to governments and big businesses to actually do the damn work to truly make a difference.

Maybe Net Zero has a bit of a PR problem as it sounds unachievable, and also maybe it sounds like you get nothing, or something will be taken away from you/society. It might do better to have a name that sounds more 'positive'. But it's a shame because ultimately, even if for some reason you don't believe in climate change it seems to me that the benefits of renewable energy (such as ending energy dependence on some not always friendly countries and less pollution) are pretty clear and I'm not sure people realise it's not just powering a few kettles, it's often around 50% of UK energy production

You explain it perfectly

Yeah, I'm not sure pay if you want it really works for a system where we either all benefit from it or no one does. So unless there's going to be bubbles of clean air descending around the people who've paid...back to the drawing board.

That’s a selfish and ignorant statement. Sustainable energy is all well and good as long as it doesn’t affect your holiday plans then.

Yep. I don't think there's even a cost effective way to decarbonise aviation. Electric planes don't work. SAF is too expensive and can't ever replace proper jet fuel.

DH also needs to fly for work. So yeah we'll fly as much as we want.

The original topic title was "The public doesn't hate net zero as much as RW politicians think they do".

Well if RW politicians have got it wrong then surely they don't get elected as no one will want their policies that roll back from net zero. Surely something to be happy about if you dislike the RW.

As it is I see a significant fraction of the parties are currently supporting some rollback from net zero. The Tories, Labour are in a bit of a flux at the moment but they are considering allowing Rosebank and Jackdaw I think. Reform we know about. SNP are talking about allowing Rosebank and Jackdaw.

The lib dems I don't know. Round my way they are opposing new renewables installation to jump on the NIMBY bandwagon, yet the main party seem to be pro it. The greens we probably know what they think.

So the vast majority of political parties seem to be heading towards some sort of rollback of our commitments to net zero presumably on the back of them believing that's what the public want.

So either pretty much all those parties from both the right and left of the political spectrum are wrong about what the public want. Or the public do indeed seem to want some sort of roll back from net zero.

Have you heard of batteries?

It took some subsidies to get us where we are, but now we have the opportunity for cheaper cleaner renewable energy, why would you throw that away for dirty, expensive fuel that may run out one day and keeps us dependent on Putin or worse, Norway!

When the same old tired arguments come out in favour of fossil fuels I always suspect your real motives, why wouldn't you want cheaper fuel bills and a cleaner planet? I know why Nigel doesn't want it, he's taken another bribe, but what's your real motive? You invested heavily in BP and Shell?

Write to your MP, mine knows my views.

It's really simple, most of them are good at replying too.

Fossil fuels cost us billions.

Renewables are the key to energy sovereignty. It’s far more powerful than CO2 emissions.

Why don't they just build out the batteries to mitigate this and store the energy?

Again you can have a mix of both, like they do in Texas where energy is super cheap. Here our energy is incredibly expensive and hinders industry.

Please stop with the emotive insults. You aren't getting anywhere and instead you sound just really stupid.

You can use both

You think people would only support net zero by choice if there is a direct benefit to themselves?

I've been enjoying the heat. If no net zero means warmer summers and better English wine bring it on.

https://x.com/LoftusSteve/status/1935230694956941444

Look at this thread

It's expensive as I've said before because it's tied to the most expensive energy source. Which bit of that do you refuse to get?

We are effectively propping up and old, dirty, obsolete technology. Let the market decide, cut the link, Bosch, simple.

But you have an agenda you refuse to share, why do you want the dirtiest most expensive energy?

BESS costs millions to develop and they have no incentive to do this because we pay them to turn off. To store all the excess (especially in Scotland) would cost be unfathomable. There's simply not enough.

I want the market to decide as well. We can stop these renewable subsidies and let them have to face the wholesale price. How is the market going to "break the link". Please educate me.

What agenda? I want energy to be cheap. I want bills to fall. Why are your knickers in a twist?

As has been shown repeatedly, more drilling won't bring down energy prices. So what's your real agenda?

Renewables are much better for the planet, so I'm really struggling to understand, apart from a pittance in tax revenue that will go towards tax cuts for the rich, how w much are you making from fossil fuels? It must be that.

You had a farage style "gift" right? You work for shell?

I love it. However, I don't think the tax payer should be paying for decarbonisation of industries such as cement production when viable alternatives exist. Schemes like Peak Cluster and the accompanying potential to import CO2 from the rest of Europe are hugely concerning.

Why are being being so accusatory? It brings down the tone of what is a very interesting thread.

I can’t believe that some are still dragging their feet on this and listening to billionaires who only care about increasing the money only they make. The planet is literally burning.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y60307r0pt

It’s a valid question. Why?

And I can't believe people still use weather catastrophes like forest fires to somehow guilt trip people into wanting to take action on climate change. It doesn't work and if anything it adds fuel to climate deniers.
The met office has a huge page on the causes of the current hot weather in Europe. climate change is a footnote, a possible contributory factor to the severity. Not the main cause. not even the 2nd or 3rd cause. Fires will still happen.
The idea that we all sacrifice everything for netzero and that means no more forest fires or heatwaves is false and just leads to backlash.

Wow! Deluded much, did you get your sources from Trump and co? So climate change and fossil fuels have nothing to do with it, okaaaaay.

It'll boost the economy even if a "little", it's a good thing. We'll get tax revenue from it, and it can be used effectively. The workers and the people of Aberdeen will greatly benefit as well.

We'll have billions of additional tax revenue as well. We can use that to help with the cost of living.

I don't understand what nonsense you're insinuating, I just want lower energy bills. You've seem to have got your granny knickers in a twist. Come back once you've sorted yourself out.

You must be looking at a different Met office page to me

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/climate-impacts/uk-and-global-fire-weather

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/record-wildfires-europe-failure-to-adapt-mounting-cost-climate-crisis

North sea oil and gas isn't going to change extreme weather events at all.

Do you asking if the poster has received a farage-style “gift”?

My DH is a director of a big environmental consultancy. Our household income is greatly enhanced by net zero. I still think it’s worthwhile discussing whether the current approach is most effective or not.